Trading Terrelle Pryor is best option for Oakland Raiders

By Gil Alcaraz IV

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With the recent explosion of the read-option offense in the NFL, athletic quarterbacks have become a hot commodity. Now more than ever, teams need scrambling backups who can step in and keep the offense moving without a hitch when players like Cam Newton and Russell Wilson go down.

That’s the Oakland Raiders would be smart to trade third-year quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

Several teams, including the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks, are still in need of a backup quarterback capable of keeping the game plan intake if the starter falls to injury. While there are several unproven options available on the open market, Pryor showed some promise last season in his three appearances with the Raiders.

In three games (one start) during the 2012 campaign, Pryor completed 14 of his 30 passes for 155 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Despite his ugly 46.7 completion percentage, Pryor compiled a 70.8 quarterback rating, which wasn’t a huge disappointment for an extremely raw passer. His 51 rushing yards and one touchdown in only 10 carries were also promising marks for the 2011 supplemental draft pick.

The fact remains, though, that with Matt Flynn and Tyler Wilson on the roster, the Raiders simply don’t need Pryor on the roster anymore. He’s too unpolished of a passer to compete for the starting gig, especially after putting on a lackluster performance to kick off OTAs. Even the presence of undrafted rookie Matt McGloin, an underrated talent, makes Pryor’s chances of playing this season slim.

The only scenario in which Pryor would see considerable snaps in the not-so-distant future would be if both Flynn and Wilson fell to injury or were extremely underwhelming in a starting role. Chances are minimal that it plays out that way, though.

Flynn and Wilson appear to be the future in Oakland, so the Raiders would be smart to trade Pryor and get something in return instead of letting him waste away on the bench. Some team that utilizes the read-option will see the value in Pryor and should be willing to give the Raiders at least a late-round draft pick.

It won’t be a popular move, but it’s the move the Raiders should make as they work towards a brighter future.